Well done to Richard Bayfield on taking third at the latest round of SERRL at Kenardington on Sunday – a course which served Richard well last year, too. Richard managed to stick it when a couple of big attacks went in and almost won it at the end. Results here.

Congratulations Miles Butler on reaching cat2 status. A series consistently good performances through Spring have seen Miles reach this level. The latest was a fourth place at Hog Hill on Thursday evening – results here.

A good day for London Phoenix at Millbrook at Bella Leach, Rachael Cotter, Michelle Forster, and Sarah Walsh all turned out in force. The final standings saw three LPs in the top 15.

Robert Moore produced his best performance yet to take a position on the podium at the SERRL Toachim House Grand Prix. Full results are here and Rob’s full report from the weekend is now online.

Stage 1
11am Cyclops Race 1 prologue tt
5 laps of the full circuit.

“There was a lot of scare mongering leading up to the start about whether it was a good idea to ride a tt bike or not, I decided to stick to what I know and with only 2 corners presenting an issue (after getting to ride it a bit before the race) and stay on the tt bike.

I managed a 17:58, really happy with that as it put me in 3rd spot and only 10 seconds off the winner. Great start to the weekend! Next up the criterium…”

Stage 2
2pm cyclopark 1hr30 circuit race.

“The organisers decided to run this anti clockwise which was a bit of a spin ball. The finish line was after climbing up the lazy s bend into a headwind. As such it made the race very tough from the start, almost immediately it was strung out and gaps appeared. I managed to get to the front after a lazy start. After 10 minutes or so a break went with a lot of strong guys including Jake Martin and a few other elites. I’d decided that if I was going to do anything I was going to join it. As I was cornering better than most I got in the group and we were away taking spades out of the chasers.

Jake as ever was determined to ride off and timed to perfection attacked into the headwind and got clear. I tried a few times to do the same but just didn’t have the kick to get away. I did however end up dragging the break around for most of the race. With 15 minutes left I decided to sit in and hope for the best knowing full well that I’d be smashed in a sprint.

I went a bit early so I could string it out and drag back at the finish, rather than just finishing last. Managed about 7th place I think but need to see the results. We lost over 1:30 to Jake who won, but gained loads over the chasers. I think I may still be 3rd but waiting for the results.

So happy to finally know how my form is going, feeling great for tomorrow’s road race, should be amazing!”

Stage 3.
Chilham 10:00am 140km road race.

“Today was amazing and awful all rolled into one. It was so fast on the first 2 laps with attack after attack, there was the main climb which was very long with a cross wind section just after a steep ramp only a third of the way up. This was where all the suffering happened. Every time I went up it I thought I wouldn’t finish the race.

Jake Martin was also riding his heart out with no support as race leader, I tried to help him on the first 2 laps but there came a point where this would simply be suicide for my result, so decided to sit in eat and recover.

With 2 laps to go a large break was 40 seconds up the road, when we went up the climb most of the GC contenders had a real go and gapped me at the cross wind section. Naturally they were annoyed when I came back dragging everyone back, but that’s all I could do. They did it again on the next kick but this time when I dragged it all back again I just kept going. They all sat up and I got clear, amazed by this I just got my head down and carried on up the climb.

So I had Francis Cade on my wheel and he didn’t do much work, but as he wasn’t a threat to me on GC it was fine. I felt great and rode faster than I thought I’d ever be able to at this stage in a 140km race, we managed to bridge to the group ahead within half a lap! At this point there was 1 lap to go, I felt the group was going too slow and loosing time so I dragged it over the climb for the last time. Finally I sat in for the final climb realising that George Harper was present who was next up on the GC.

Amazingly I still had good legs and on the final drag (which seems to go on forever) Francis got clear and held on for 4th and I kept a gap of about 2-3 seconds and came 5th! (results of stage not confirmed yet)

In hindsight I was still 2 seconds off 2nd on gc to George and only 16 seconds off winning the event! So close but not quite.

Over the moon with the result though first ever podium at a stage race and best result so far in an E/1/2/3 field, hopefully this is the start for my best season yet.”

Report from Rob Moore.

Chris Dick put in a very good showing in the first Surrey League of the season to gain 7th place and 10 points. The Cross season successes are already being carried over to the road- well done Chris! Full results here.

The San Fairy Ann Circuits proved a good day out for Mark Taviner on his first race outing. A very respectable 10th place was an excellent showing. Jerzy and James Wallace were 4th and 12th respectively in the E/1/2 race. Results here.

A very strong ride by Rob Moore saw him take top spot in the E/1/2 race at Gravesend. Rob was over a minute ahead of the chasing group which made the victory all the more impressive. Bella and Michelle had very good results again, taking fourth and seventh respectively. Results here.

Great riding by Michelle and Bella at Gravesend as they came in fourth and fifth respectively. Early form like this promises for a good season. Results here.

A strong turn out by London Phoenix contributed to a good day out in Kent at the annual HOTA. Thanks to Catford CC for a very well run event and well done to all who took part but especially Stan and Neal for their second and third places respectively. The HOTA site has more details.

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